Police open 2 cases after attempted seizure of temples in Vinnytsia Eparchy

Law enforcers have opened two criminal cases following raiding attacks on churches in the village of Mezhlesya and the village of Bar of the Bar Deanery of the Vinnytsia Eparchy. According to the eparchy’s website, OCU activists, backed by representatives of the local authorities, incite religious discord at a time when Ukraine is defending its territorial integrity and independence.

On 11 June 2022, supporters of the OCU, led by their "dean" Vitaliy Nazarovets, broke the locks and stormed into St. Michael’s Church in the village of Mezhlesye. The Vinnytsia court of appeal ordered the local police to open criminal proceedings over the attempted seizure of the church. The UOC religious community stresses that it does not want to transfer to any structures or religious organizations.

In the Church of St Seraphim of Sarov in the village of Bar, the schismatics damaged the locks on two doors. Chains and bars were put on the main entrance. Criminal proceedings have been opened under Article 356 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

"The rector of the parish, Archpriest Alexander Grezhuk, and community members have been threatened repeatedly, which has also been reported to the police," the message says.

The OCU has been actively assisted in these attacks by representatives of the local authorities. In particular, the initiators of the "transfer" of the UOC communities to the OCU were Oksana Shevchuk, head of the Voynashivka district, and Alexander Yezhakevich, a member of the Bar City Council.

As reported, the UOC Chancellor appealed to Zelensky over the situation in the Boryspil Eparchy.

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